Stopping the ‘Abu Sayyaf’

WHEN the two Germans being held by an armed group in Sulu were released on Oct 17 after six months in captivity, a Philippine military spokesman announced that the foreigners were freed because of the pressure exerted by the military and that, in keeping with government policy, no ransom was paid to the kidnappers.

The kidnappers quickly countered by saying that the Germans were released after 250 million peso in ransom money was delivered.